THE  ROBERT  E    COWAN  COLLECTION 

I'RKSKNTKI)    TO    THK 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

BY 


C.  R.  HUNTINGTON 


-JUNE,    1897. 


I  No 


o  sit£_ 


THE  ,STORY 


KEARSyVRGE 


ALABAMA. 


SAN   FRANCISCO  : 
HENRY    PAYOT   &    CO.,    PUBLISHERS 

1868. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1868,  by 

EDWARD   BOSQUI  &   CO., 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the   District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the  District  of  California. 

7  6-75-0 


KDWABD  BOSQU1  i  CO..   PRINTKKS. 

',17  Cl.v  Stn.,1,  H»n  Fr.ne-i«™. 


THE  Author  is  induced  to  publish  this  narrative  of 
the  Kearsarge  and  Alabama,  from  the  want  that  exists  of  a 
popular,  detailed,  and  yet  concise  account  of  the  engagement 
between  the  two  vessels. 


E    STORY. 


ON  Sunday,  June  I2th,  1864,  the  U.  S.  Steamer 
Kearsarge  was  lying  at  anchor  in  the  Scheldt,  off 
Flushing,  Holland.  Suddenly  appeared  the  cornet 
at  the  fore — an  unexpected  signal,  that  compelled 
absent  officers  and  men  to  repair  on  board.  Steam 
was  raised,  and  immediately  after  a  departure  made, 
when  all  hands  being  called,  the  nature  of  the 
precipitate  movement  became  apparent.  Captain 
Winslow,  in  a  brief  address,  announced  the  wel 
come  intelligence  of  the  reception  of  a  telegram 
from  his  Excellency,  Mr.  Dayton,  Minister  Resi 
dent  at  Paris,  to  the  effect  that  the  notorious 
Alabama  had  arrived  the  day  previous  at  Cher 
bourg,  France  ;  hence,  the  urgency  of  departure, 
the  probability  of  an  encounter,  and  the  confident 
expectation  of  her  destruction  or  capture.  The 
crew  responded  by  cheers. 


The  succeeding  day  witnessed  the  arrival  of  the 
Kearsarge  at  Dover,  England,  for  dispatches,  and 
the  day  after  (Tuesday)  her  appearance  off  Cher 
bourg  Breakwater.  At  anchor  in  the  harbor  was 
seen  the  celebrated  Alabama — a  beautiful  specimen 
of  naval  architecture,  eliciting  encomiums  for  evi 
dent  neatness,  good  order,  and  a  well-disciplined 
crew,  indicative  of  efficiency  in  any  duty  required. 
The  surgeon  of  the  Kearsarge  proceeded  on  shore 
and  obtained  pratique  for  boats.  Owing  to  the  en 
forcement  of  the  neutral  twenty-four  hour  regula 
tion,  to  anchor,  became  inexpedient;  the  result  was 
the  establishment  of  a  vigilant  watch,  alternately, 
at  each  of  the  harbor  entrances,  which  continued 
to  the  moment  of  the  engagement. 

On  Wednesday,  Captain  Winslow  paid  an  of 
ficial  visit  to  the  Admiral  commanding  the  Mari 
time  District  and  the  U.  S.  Commercial  Agent, 
bringing  on  his  return  the  unanticipated  news  that 
Captain  Semmes  declared  his  intention  to  fight. 
At  first,  the  assertion  was  hardly  credited,  the  poli 
cy  of  the  Alabama  being  regarded  as  in  opposition 
to  a  conflict,  but  even  the  doubters  were  speedily 
half  convinced  when  the  character  of  the  so-called 
challenge  was  disclosed,  viz. : 


"C.  S.  S.  ALABAMA,  Cherbourg,  June  i4th,  1864. 

' '  To  A.  BONFILS,  Esq. , 

"Cherbourg — 

"  Sir:  I  hear  that  you  were  informed  by  the  U.  S.  Consul, 
that  the  Kearsarge  was  to  come  to  this  port  solely  for  the  prison 
ers  landed  by  me,  and  that  she  was  to  depart  in  twenty-four 
hours.  I  desire  you  to  say  to  the  U.  S.  Consul  that  my  inten 
tion  is  to  fight  the  Kearsarge,  as  soon  as  I  can  make  the  neces 
sary  arrangements.  I  hope  these  will  not  detain  me  more  than 
until  to-morrow  evening,  or  after  the  morrow  morning  at  far 
thest.  I  beg  she  will  not  depart  before  I  am  ready  to  go  out. 
' '  I  have  the  honor  to  be 

* '  Very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.   SEMMES, 

' '  Captain. ' ' 

This  communication  was  sent  by  Mr.  Bonfiis 
to  the  U.  S.  Commercial  Agent,  Mr.  Liais,  with  a 
request  that  the  latter  would  furnish  a  copy  to 
Captain  Winslow  for  his  guidance.  There  was  no 
other  defiance  to  combat.  The  letter  that  passed 
between  the  commercial  agents,  was  the  challenge 
about  which  so  much  has  been  written.  Captain 
Semmes  indirectly  informed  Captain  Winslow  of 
his  desire  for  a  combat.  Captain  Winslow  made 
no  reply,  but  prepared  his  ship  to  meet  the  op 
ponent,  thereby  tacitly  acknowledging  the  so-called 
challenge  and  its  acceptance. 

Requisite  preparations  were  immediately  insti- 


tuted  for  battle,  with  no  relaxation  of  the  watch. 
Thursday  passed;  Friday  came,  and  yet  no  Ala 
bama  appeared.  According  to  report,  important 
arrangements  were  being  effected ;  a  zeal  was  dis 
played  in  the  reception  of  coals,  the  transmission 
of  valuables  on  shore,  and  the  sharpening  of 
swords,  cutlasses,  boarding-pikes,  and  battle-axes. 
To  the  observer  this,  preparation  confirmed  the  as 
surance  of  the  certainty  of  a  fight.  An  intended 
surprise  by  night  was  suggested,  and  measures  pre 
cautionary  taken.  Dispatches  were  brought  from 
Mr.  Dayton,  Minister  at  Paris,  by  his  son,  who 
with  difficulty  had  obtained  permission  from  the 
Admiral  commanding  to  visit  the  Kearsarge.  To 
preserve  a  strictly  honest  neutrality,  the  French 
authorities  had  prohibited  all  communication  with 
the  respective  vessels.  Mr.  Dayton  expressed  the 
opinion  that  the  Alabama  would  not  fight,  though 
acknowledging  the  prevalence  of  a  contrary  im 
pression  at  Cherbourg  ;  he  departed  for  the  shore 
with  intention  to  proceed  immediately  to  Paris. 
In  taking  leave  of  the  Admiral,  the  latter  men 
tioned  the  fixed  determination  of  Captain  Semmes 
to  engage  with  the  Kearsarge  on  the  day  following 
(Sunday),  and  that  he  imparted  this  intelligence, 
since  no  subsequent  communication  could  be  had 
with  the  Kearsarge.  Mr.  Dayton  consequently  de 
ferred  his  departure,  witnessed  the  action,  tele- 


graphed  to  Paris  the  result,  and  was  one  of  the 
first  to  repair  on  board  and  offer  congratulations. 
He  passed  a  portion  of  Saturday  night  endeavor 
ing  to  procure  a  boat  to  dispatch  to  the  Kearsarge 
the  information  acquired,  but  so  securely  was  the 
coast  guarded  by  the  enforcement  of  the  Admiral's 
orders,  that  all  his  efforts  were  useless. 

At  a  supper  in  Cherbourg  on  Saturday  night, 
several  officers  of  the  Alabama  met  sympathizing 
French  friends — the  impending  fight  being  the 
chief  topic  of  conversation.  In  confidence  of  an 
easy  victory,  they  boastingly  proclaimed  the  inten 
tion  either  to  sink  the  Federal  or  gain  another 
corsair.  They  rise  with  promise  to  meet  the  fol 
lowing  night  to  renew  the  festivity  as  victors,  are 
escorted  to  the  boat,  and  separate  with  cheers  and 
wishes  for  a  successful  return. 

Sunday  the  I9th  comes;  a  fine  day,  atmosphere 
somewhat  hazy,  little  sea,  moderate  westerly  wind. 

At  10  A.M.  the  crew  are  inspected  at  quarters 
and  dispersed  to  attend  divine  service  at  1 1  o'clock. 
Seemingly  no  one  thought  of  the  Alabama,  for  so 
long  awaited  and  not  appearing,  speculation  as  to 
her  probable  advent  had  ceased.  At  10.20  the 
officer  of  the  deck  reports  a  steamer  coming  from 
Cherbourg,  a  frequent  occurrence,  and  consequent 
ly  creates  no  excitement.  Soon,  by  the  aid  of  a 
glass,  he  descries  the  enemy,  and  shouts  :  "  The 


Alabama!"      Instantly  all  hands  are  called  and  the 
ship  cleared  for  action. 

The  position  of  the  Kearsarge  was  off  the  east 
ern  entrance  to  the  harbor,  at  a  distance  of  nearly 
three  miles,  the  Alabama  approaching  from  the 
western  entrance,  escorted  by  the  French  iron-clad 
frigate  La  Couronne,  and  followed  by  a  fore-and- 
aft  rigged  steamer,  flying  the  English  yacht  flag, 
the  Deerhound.  The  frigate  having  convoyed  the 
Alabama  outside  the  limit  of  French  waters,  with 
characteristic  neutrality,  steamed  back  into  port 
without  delay ;  the  yacht  remained  in  proximity  to 
the  scene  of  action.  To  avoid  a  question  of  juris 
diction,  and  to  prevent  an  escape  of  the  Alabama 
to  neutral  waters  in  the  event  of  a  retreat,  the 
Kearsarge  steamed  to  sea  making  final  preparations, 
the  last  being  the  sanding  of  decks  (sufficiently 
suggestive  of  sober  thoughts),  followed  by  the 
enemy,  until  a  distance  of  about  seven  miles  from 
the  shore  was  attained,  when  at  10.50  the  Kearsarge 
wheeled,  bringing  her  head  in  shore,  and  presented 
starboard  battery,  being  one  and  a  quarter  miles 
from  her  opponent :  the  Kearsarge  advanced  rapid 
ly,  and  at  10.57  received  the  first  broadside  of 
solid  shot  at  a  distance  of  eighteen  hundred  yards 
from  the  Alabama.  This  broadside  cut  away  a 
little  of  the  rigging,  but  the  shot  chiefly  passed 
over  or  fell  short.  With  increased  speed  the 


OF  THB 

UNIVERSITY 


Kearsarge  advanced,  receiving  a  second  and  part 
of  a  third  broadside  with  similar  effect.  Arrived 
within  nine  hundred  yards  of  the  Alabama,  the 
Kearsarge,  fearing  a  fourth  broadside  with  evident 
raking  results,  sheered  and  broke  her  silence  by 
opening  with  the  starboard  battery.  Each  vessel 
was  now  pressed  under  a  full  head  of  steam,  each 
employing  the  starboard  battery,  and  to  obviate 
passing  each  other  too  speedily,  and  to  maintain 
the  bearing  of  the  respective  broadsides,  the  cir 
cular  method  of  fighting  was  necessitated,  each 
steering  around  a  common  center,  from  a  quarter 
to  half  a  mile  apart. 

The  action  was  now  fairly  commenced.  One  of 
the  shot  of  the  first  broadsides  of  the  Kearsarge 
carried  away  the  spanker-gaff  of  the  enemy,  and 
caused  his  ensign  to  come  down  by  the  run.  This 
incident  was  received  as  a  favorable  omen  by  the 
fortunate  crew,  who  cheered  vociferously  and  went 
with  increased  confidence  to  their  work.  Wild  and 
rapid  was  the  firing  of  the  Alabama,  that  of  the 
Kearsarge  being  deliberate,  precise,  and  almost 
from  the  commencement  productive  of  death, 
destruction,  and  dismay.  The  Kearsarge  gunners 
had  been  cautioned  against  firing  without  direct 
aim,  advised  to  elevate  or  depress  the  guns  with 
deliberation,  and  though  subjected  to  an  incessant 
storm  of  shot  and  shell,  proceeded  calmly  to  their 


10 


duty,  and  faithfully  complied  with  the  instructions. 
The  effect  upon  the  enemy  was  readily  perceived  ; 
nothing  restrained  the  enthusiasm  of  the  crew. 
Cheer  succeeded  cheer,  caps  thrown  in  the  air  or 
overboard,  jackets  discarded,  one  encouraging  the 
other,  sanguine  of  victory,  shouting  as  each  pro 
jectile  took  effect:  "That  is  a  good  one;"  "that 
told;"  "give  her  another ;"  "down  boys;"  "give 
her  another  like  the  last;"  and  so  on,  cheering, 
exulting,  joyous  to  the  end.  After  exposure  to 
an  uninterrupted  cannonading  for  eighteen  minutes 
without  casualties,  a  sixty-eight-pound  Blakely 
shell  passed  through  the  starboard  bulwarks  below 
main  rigging,  exploded  upon  the  quarter-deck,  and 
wounded  three  of  the  crew  of  the  after-pivot  gun. 
With  these  exceptions,  not  an  officer  or  a  man  of 
the  Kearsarge  received  the  slightest  injury.  The 
unfortunates  were  speedily  taken  below,  and  so 
quietly  was  the  action  performed,  that  at  the  ter 
mination  of  the  fight  a  large  portion  of  the  crew 
were  unaware  that  any  of  their  comrades  were 
wounded.  Two  shot  entered  the  ports  occupied 
by  the  thirty-twos,  where  several  men  were  station 
ed,  and  yet  none  were  hit.  A  shell  exploded  in 
the  hammock-netting  and  set  the  ship  on  fire  ;  the 
alarm  calling  to  fire-quarters  was  sounded,  and 
persons  specially  detailed  for  a  like  emergency, 
promptly  extinguished  the  flames,  while  the  re- 


1 1 


mainder  of  the  crew  continued  at  the  guns  without 
interruption. 

Terrific  was  the  effect  of  the  eleven-inch  shell 
upon  the  crew  of  the  doomed  ship  :  many  were 
torn  asunder  by  shell  direct,  or  horribly  mutilated 
by  splinters.  Her  decks  were  covered  with  blood 
and  the  debris  of  bodies.  One  gun  (after-pivot)  , 
had  its  crew  renewed  four  times,  fourteen  out  of 
nineteen  men  being  disabled  during  the  action. 
The  carnage  around  this  gun  was  more  frightful 
than  elsewhere ;  so  great  was  the  accumulation  of 
blood  and  fragments  of  limbs,  that  a  removal  was 
required  before  the  gun  could  be  worked.  A  man 
upon  the  bowsprit  is  struck  in  the  abdomen  by  a 
shot,  staggers  aft  holding  up  his  entrails,  and  near 
the  main  hatch  falls  dead.  Another  is  cut  in  twain, 
one-half  of  the  body  going  down  the  engine  hatch, 
the  other  half  remaining  on  deck.  A  poor  wretch 
paralyzed  by  fear  leaves  his  station  and  vainly 
seeks  safety  by  a  plea  of  indisposition ;  he  is  or 
dered  to  resume  his  position  at  the  gun,  and  not 
obeying,  is  killed  by  a  pistol  shot  from  the  officer 
commanding  the  division. 

It  is  truly  wonderful  that  so  few  casualties 
should  have  occurred  on  board  the  Kearsarge  with 
so  large  a  percentage  to  her  adversary — the  first 
having  fired  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  shot 
and  shell,  and  the  second  nearly  double  that  num- 


OP  THB 

I2       .UNIVERSITY 

ber.      Probably  no  future  similar  combat  will  oc 
casion  like  results. 

The  fight  continues.  The  eleven-inch  shell 
telLwith  astonishing  precision;  one  penetrates  a 
coal  bunker,  and  immediately  a  dense  cloud  of 
coal-dust  rises  and  like  a  pall  hovers  over  the  fated 
ship.  Others  strike  near  the  water-line  between 
the  main  and  mizzen  masts,  explode  within  board, 
or  passing  through  burst  afar  off.  Crippled  and 
torn  the  Alabama  moves  less  quickly  and  begins 
to  settle  by  the  stern,  yet  relaxes  not  her  fire,  but 
returns  successive  broadsides,  ever  without  dis 
astrous  effect.  Captain  Semmes  witnesses  the 
dreadful  havoc  made  by  the  shell,  especially  by 
those  of  the  after-pivot  gun,  and  offers  a  reward 
for  its  silence.  Soon  his  battery  is  turned  upon 
the  particular  offending  gun  with  endeavor  to  com 
pel  its  abandonment ;  in  vain,  for  its  work  of  de 
struction  goes  on.  Captain  Semmes  places  sharp 
shooters  in  the  quarter  boats  to  pick  off  the  offi 
cers;  in  vain,  for  none  are  injured.  He  views  the 
surrounding  devastation — a  sinking  ship,  rudder 
and  propeller  disabled,  a  large  portion  of  the  crew 
killed  or  wounded,  while  his  adversary  is  appar 
ently  but  slightly  damaged.  He  has  completed 
the  seventh  rotation  on  the  circular  tract  and  is 
conscious  of  defeat.  He  seeks  to  escape  by  setting 
all  available  sail  (foretrysail  and  two  jibs),  leaves 


'3 

the  circle  and  heads  for  the  neutral  waters  of  the 
French  coast.  The  speed  of  his  vessel  is  lessened  ; 
in  winding  she  presents  the  port  battery  with  only 
two  guns  bearing,  and  exhibits  gaping  sides.  The 
Alabama  is  at  the  mercy  of  the  Kearsarge.  Captain 
Semmes  calls  his  officers  aft,  briefly  states  the  con 
dition  of  the  two  vessels,  and  orders  a  surrender 
to  prevent  a  further  loss  of  life. 

The  colors  are  struck  and  the  Kearsarge  ceases 
firing.  Two  of  the  junior  officers  of  the  Alabama 
swear  they  will  never  surrender  to  a  "  damned 
Yankee,"  but  rather  go  down  in  the  ship ;  in  a 
mutinous  spirit  they  rush  to  the  two  port  guns 
and  open  fire  upon  the  Kearsarge.  Captain  Win- 
slow,  amazed  at  this  unwonted  conduct  of  an  ene 
my  who  had  hauled  down  his  flag  in  token  of  sur 
render,  exclaimed:  "  He  is  playing  us  a  trick,  give 
him  another  broadside."  Again  the  shot  and  shell 
go  crashing  through  the  bulwarks,  carrying  death 
and  destruction  ;  the  Kearsarge  is  laid  across  the 
bows  for  raking  and  in  position  to  employ  grape 
and  canister  with  deadly  effect.  Over  the  stern  of 
the  Alabama  is  displayed  a  white  flag,  her  ensign 
half-masted,  union  down ;  Captain  Winslow  for 
the  second  time  orders  a  cessation  of  firing. 

Captain  Semmes  in  his  report  says  :  "Although 
we  were  now  but  four  hundred  yards  from  each 
other,  the  enemy  fired  upon  me  five  times  after  my 


colors  had  been  struck.  It  is  charitable  to  sup 
pose  that  a  ship-of-war  of  a  Christian  nation  could 
not  have  done  this  intentionally."  He  had  not 
the  generosity  to  afford  the  explanation  ;  he  is 
silent  as  to  the  renewal  of  the  fight  after  his  sur 
render  ;  an  act  which  in  Christian  warfare  would, 
in  severe  justice,  have  authorized  the  Kearsarge  to 
continue  firing  until  the  Alabama  had  disappeared 
beneath  the  waters ;  nay,  even  to  have  refused 
quarter  to  the  survivors. 

Thus  ended  the  fight  after  a  duration  of  one 
hour  and  two  minutes. 

Boats  were  now  lowered  from  the  humbled 
Alabama.  A  master's  mate,  an  Englishman,  Ful- 
lam  by  name,  came  alongside  the  Kearsarge  with  a 
few  of  the  wounded,  reported  the  disabled  and 
sinking  condition  of  his  vessel,  and  asked  for  as 
sistance. 

Captain  Winslow  demanded  :  "  Does  Captain 
Semmes  surrender  his  ship?"  "Yes,"  was  the 
reply.  Fullam  then  solicited  permission  to  return 
to  the  Alabama  with  his  boat  and  crew  to  assist  in 
rescuing  the  drowning,  pledging  his  word  of  honor 
that  when  this  act  was  accomplished,  he  would 
come  on  board  and  surrender  himself  a  prisoner. 
Unhappily  Captain  Winslow  granted  the  request. 
With  less  generosity,  he  could  have  detained  the 
rebel  officer  and  men,  supplied  their  places  in  the 


15 

boat  from  his  own  ship's  company,  secured  more 
prisoners,  and  afforded  equal  aid  to  the  distressed. 
The  generosity  was  abused  as  the  sequel  shows. 
Fullam  pulled  to  the  midst  of  the  drowning,  res 
cued  several  officers,  proceeded  to  the  Deerhound, 
cast  his  boat  adrift,  and  basely  violated  his  prof 
fered  word  of  honor. 

The  Deerhound,  after  the  conclusion  of  the 
fight,  appears  upon  the  scene,  and  plays  an  im 
portant  part.  This  yacht  was  built  by  the  Messrs. 
Laird,  at  the  same  yard  with  the  Alabama.  Com 
ing  under  the  stern  from  the  windward,  the  Deer- 
hound  was  hailed,  and  her  commander  requested  by 
Captain  Winslow  to  run  down  to  the  Alabama  and 
assist  in  picking  up  the  men  of  the  sinking  vessel. 
Or,  as  Mr.  Lancaster  reported :  "  The  fact  is,  that 
when  we  passed  the  Kearsarge  the  captain  cried 
out, — c  For  God's  sake  do  what  you  can  to  save 
them  ;'  and  that  was  my  warrant  for  interfering  in 
any  way  for  the  aid  and  succor  of  his  enemies." 
The  Deerhound  steamed  towards  the  Alabama, 
which  sank  almost  immediately  after,  lowered  her 
boats,  rescued  Captain  Semmes,  thirteen  officers, 
and  twenty-six  men,  leaving  the  rest  of  the  surviv 
ors  to  the  boats  of  the  Kearsarge,  and  departed 
directly  for  Southampton.  Captain  Winslow  per 
mitted  the  yacht  to  secure  his  prisoners,  anticipat 
ing  their  subsequent  surrender.  Again  was  his 


i6 

confidence  in  the  integrity  of  a  neutral  misplaced. 
The  assistance  of  the  yacht,  it  is  presumed,  was 
solicited  in  a  spirit  of  chivalry,  for  the  Kearsarge 
comparatively  uninjured,  with  but  three  wounded, 
possessed  of  a  full  head  of  steam,  was  in  condition 
to  engage  a  second  enemy  :  instead  of  remaining  at 
a  distance  of  about  four  hundred  yards  from  the 
Alabama,  and  from  this  position  sending  two 
boats  (others  being  unserviceable),  the  Kearsarge 
by  steaming  close  to  the  settling  ship  and  in  midst 
of  the  vanquished,  could  have  captured  all — Sem- 
mes,  officers,  and  men. 

The  Deerhound  steams  rapidly  away.  An  of 
ficer  approaches  Captain  Winslow  and  reports  the 
presence  of  Captain  Semmes  and  many  officers  on 
board  the  English  yacht,  considering  the  informa 
tion  authentic  as  it  was  obtained  from  certain 
prisoners  ;  he  suggests  the  propriety  of  firing  a 
shot  to  bring  her  to,  and  asks  permission.  Captain 
Winslow  chivalrously  replies  in  the  negative,  de 
claring  that  no  Englishman  who  flies  the  royal 
yacht  flag,  would  act  so  dishonorable  a  part  as  to 
run  away  with  his  prisoners  when  he  had  been 
asked  to  save  them  from  drowning.  Meanwhile 
the  Deerhound  increases  the  distance  from  the 
Kearsarge;  another  officer  addresses  Captain  Win- 
slow  in  language  of  similar  effect,  but  with  more 
positiveness,  that  Semmes  and  his  officers  were  on 


17 

board  the  yacht  endeavoring  to  escape.  With  un- 
diminished  confidence  in  the  honor  of  the  English 
gentleman,  with  continued  chivalric  spirit  Captain 
Winslow  refuses  to  have  a  shot  fired,  not  credit 
ing  the  flight,  saying  that  the  yacht  was  £C  simply 
coming  round,"  and  would  not  go  away  without 
communicating.  "  I  could  not  believe  that  the 
commander  of  that  vessel  could  be  guilty  of  so 
disgraceful  an  act  as  taking  our  prisoners,  and 
therefore  took  no  means  to  prevent  it."  Without 
this  trust  in  chivalry,  Captain  Winslow  might  have 
arrested  the  yacht  in  her  flight,  if  only  as  a  pru 
dential  motive,  reserving  final  action  as  to  the 
seizure  of  the  passengers  when  time  had  been 
afforded  for  reflection. 

No  shot  is  fired  :  the  Deerhound  finally  dis 
appears  with  the  great  prize,  Semmes,  and  thus 
passed  an  opportunity  of  making  this  brilliant  en 
gagement  one  of  the  most  complete  and  satis 
factory  in  naval  history. 

Captain  Winslow  erroneously  thought  that  the 
Deerhound  would  not  run  away  with  the  rescued 
persons  :  in  this  opinion  he  was  probably  alone. 
An  excitement  occurred  as  a  consequent ;  an  ex 
pression  of  regret  for  the  escape  of  the  yacht  and 
her  coveted  prize,  after  being  as  it  were  within 
reach  of  the  victors.  The  bitterness  of  the  regret 
was  manifest.  The  famed  Alabama,  "  a  formid- 

5 


i8 

able  ship,  the  terror  of  American  commerce,  well 
armed,  well  manned,  well  handled,"  was  destroyed, 
"sent  to  the  bottom  in  an  hour,"  but  her  noto 
rious  commander  had  escaped  :  the  eclat  of  victory 
seemed  already  lessened. 

At  12.24  tne  Alabama  sank  in  forty-five  fath 
oms  of  water,  at  a  distance  of  about  four  and  a 
half  miles  from  Cherbourg  Breakwater,  off  the 
west  entrance.  She  was  severely  hulled  between 
the  main  and  mizzen  masts,  and  commenced  set 
tling  by  the  stern  before  the  termination  of  the 
conflict.  Her  crew  had  jumped  into  the  sea,  sup 
porting  themselves  by  portions  of  the  wreck,  spars, 
and  other  accessible  objects,  the  water  swept  over 
the  stern  and  upper  deck,  and  when  thus  partially 
submerged,  the  mainmast,  pierced  by  a  shot,  broke 
off  near  the  head,  the  bow  lifted  from  the  waves, 
and  then  came  the  end.  Suddenly  assuming  a  per 
pendicular  position,  caused  by  the  falling  aft  of  the 
battery  and  stores,  straight  as  a  plumb-line,  stern 
first,  she  went  down,  the  jibboom  being  the  last  to 
appear  above  water.  Down  sank  the  terror  of  mer 
chantmen,  riddled  through  and  through,  and  as 
she  disappeared  to  her  last  resting  place,  not  a 
cheer  arose  from  the  victors.  To  borrow  the  lan 
guage  of  the  Liverpool  Courrier :  "Down  under 
the  French  waters,  resting  on  the  bed  of  the  ocean, 
lies  the  gallant  Alabama,  with  all  her  guns  aboard, 


19 

and  some  of  her  brave  crew,  waiting  until  the  sea 
yields  up  its  dead." 

Mounted  on  the  summit  of  an  old  church 
tower,  a  photographic  artist  obtained  a  good  nega 
tive  of  the  contest.  An  excursion  train  from  Paris 
arrived  Sunday  morning,  bringing  hundreds  of 
pleasure-seekers  who  were  unexpectedly  favored 
by  the  spectacle  of  a  sea-fight.  The  events  of  the 
day  monopolized  the  conversation  of  Parisian  so 
ciety  for  more  than  a  week. 

This  grand  artillery  duel,  or  Sunday  gladiatorial 
combat,  occurred  in  the  presence  of  more  than 
fifteen  thousand  spectators,  who  upon  the  heights 
of  Cherbourg,  the  breakwater,  and  rigging  of  men- 
of-war,  witnessed  C£  the  last  of  the  Alabama." 
Among  them  were  the  captains  and  crews  of  two 
merchant  ships  burnt  by  the  daring  rover  a  few 
days  before  her  arrival  at  Cherbourg.  Their  ex 
citement  during  the  combat  was  intense,  and  their 
expressions  of  joy  to  the  victors  at  the  result,  such 
as  only  those  who  had  suffered  from  the  depre 
dations  of  the  Alabama  could  give  utterance  to. 
Many  were  desirous  to  go  on  board  the  Kearsarge 
to  participate  in  the  action,  but  so  strictly  was  the 
neutrality  law  observed,  no  intercourse  was  allowed. 

The  Alabama's  wounded  were  brought  on 
board  the  Kearsarge  for  surgical  attendance.  Sev 
enty  persons,  including  five  officers,  were  saved  by 


20 


the  boats.  The  conduct  of  Dr.  Llewellyn,  native 
of  Wales,  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  Alabama,  de 
serves  mention.  He  was  unremitting  in  attention 
to  the  wounded  during  the  battle,  and  after  the 
surrender,  superintended  their  removal  to  the 
Kearsarge,  nobly  refusing  to  leave  the  ship  while 
one  remained.  This  humane  duty  performed, 
with  inability  to  swim,  he  caused  two  empty  shell 
boxes  to  be  attached  to  his  waist,  an  improvised 
life-preserver,  and  thus  prepared  leaped  overboard. 
In  the  hurried  adjustment  of  the  shell  boxes,  suf 
ficient  care  was  not  taken  to  maintain  the  center  of 
gravity,  the  unfortunate  gentleman  failed  to  keep 
his  head  above  water,  and  before  aid  could  be  de 
rived  from  his  struggling  comrades,  he  was  dead. 

At  3.10  P.M.  the  Kearsarge  anchored  in  Cher 
bourg  harbor  ;  the  wounded  were  transferred  the 
same  evening  to  the  Hopital  de  la  Marine,  and 
all  the  prisoners,  officers  excepted,  were  paroled 
and  set  on  shore  before  sunset.  The  crew  of  both 
vessels  harmonized  after  the  fight,  the  conquerors 
sharing  their  clothes,  supper,  and  grog  with  the 
conquered. 

The  total  casualties  of  the  Alabama  are  not 
known,  estimated  at  forty-seven  —  a  striking  con 
trast  to  the  three  of  the  Kearsarge.  Two  of  these 
three  recovered  ;  one,  the  brave  Gowin,  died  in 
hospital.  The  behavior  of  this  gallant  sailor  dur- 


21 


ing  and  after  the  battle,  as  described  by  the  Exec 
utive  Officer  and  Surgeon,  is  worthy  of  the  high 
est  commendation.  Stationed  at  the  after-pivot 
gun,  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell,  he  was  seri 
ously  wounded  in  the  left  thigh  and  leg  ;  in  the 
agony  of  pain,  and  exhausted  from  the  loss  of 
blood,  he  dragged  himself  to  the  forward  hatch, 
concealing  the  severity  of  injury,  that  his  comrades 
might  not  leave  their  stations  for  his  assistance  : 
fainting,  he  was  lowered  to  the  care  of  the  surgeon, 
whom  poor  Gowin,  in  acuteness  of  suffering, 
greeted  with  a  smile,  saying :  "  Doctor,  I  can  fight 
no  more  and  so  come  to  you,  but  it  is  all  right,  I 
am  satisfied,  for  we  are  whipping  the  Alabama;" 
and  subsequently :  "  I  will  willingly  lose  my  leg 
or  my  life  if  it  is  necessary."  Lying  upon  his 
mattress  he  paid  strict  attention  to  the  progress  of 
the  fight,  as  far  as  could  be  elicited  by  the  sounds 
on  deck — his  face  beaming  with  satisfaction  when 
ever  the  cheers  of  his  shipmates  were  heard  ;  with 
difficulty  he  waved  his  hand  over  his  head  and 
joined  in  each  exulting  shout  with  a  feeble  voice. 
At  times  he  would  comfort  the  other  wounded  by 
an  earnest  assurance  that  "  victory  is  ours  !"  Di-» 
rectly  after  the  fight  he  desired  the  surgeon  to 
render  him  no  further  attention,  for  he  was  "  doing 
well,"  requesting  that  all  his  time  should  be  de 
voted  to  the  "poor  fellows  of  the  Alabama."  In 

6 


22 


the  hospital  he  was  resigned,  thankful  for  being 
the  only  victim,  proud  of  his  ship  and  shipmates, 
frequently  asserting  his  willingness  to  die  after  so 
glorious  a  victory.  "  This  man,  so  interesting  by 
his  courage  and  resignation/'  wrote  the  French 
surgeon-in-chief,  with  uniform  patience  and  cheer 
fulness,  enlisted  general  sympathy ;  all  anxiously 
desired  his  recovery  and  sincerely  regretted  his 
decease.  Certainly  one  of  the  most  interesting 
events  of  the  action  is  the  heroic  conduct  of  the 
brave  Gowin. 

An  incident  that  ever  occasions  gratification 
in  its  relation,  was  the  singular  coincidence  of  the 
lowering  of  the  rebel  colors  by  an  early  shot  from 
the  Kearsarge,  and  the  unfolding  of  the  victori 
ous  flag  by  a  shot  from  the  last  volley  of  the  Ala 
bama,  prior  to  surrender.  At  the  main  peak  of 
the  Kearsarge  the  colors  were  stopped,  that  they 
might  be  displayed  if  the  ensign  was  carried  away, 
and  to  serve  as  the  emblem  of  victory  in  case  of  a 
happy  success.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Ala 
bama's  colors  were  brought  down  by  a  shot  from 
one  of  the  first  broadsides  of  the  Kearsarge, — an 
auspicious  omen  for  the  sailor  at  the  commence? 
ment  of  battle.  A  shot  from  the  last  broadside  of 
the  Alabama  passed  high  over  the  Kearsarge,  strik 
ing  and  carrying  away  the  halyards  of  the  colors  at 
the  main  peak,  and  in  so  doing,  pulled  sufficiently 


23 

to  break  the  stop,  and  thereby  unfurled  the  tri 
umphant  flag  at  the  moment  the  rebel  ensign  was 
struck  in  token  of  submission. 

The  Alabama  was  destroyed — the  Kearsarge 
being  so  little  damaged,  that  if  required,  could 
have  engaged  another  enemy.  It  is  surprising  that 
the  Alabama's  fire  should  have  produced  so  mod 
erate  an  injury,  for,  according  to  report,  over  three 
hundred  shot  and  shell  were  discharged  ;  of  these, 
thirteen  took  effect  in  the  hull,  and  fifteen  in  sails, 
rigging,  boats,  and  smoke-stack.  Luckily,  a  one 
hundred  and  ten-pounder  rifle  shell  which  lodged 
in  the  stern  post,  raising  the  transom  frame,  and  a 
thirty-two-pounder  shell  that  entered  forward  of 
forward-pivot  port,  crushing  water-ways,  did  not 
explode. 

Captain  Semmes,  in  his  official  report,  says : 
"  At  the  end  of  the  engagement  it  was  discovered 
by  those  of  our  officers  who  went  alongside  the 
enemy's  ship  with  the  wounded,  that  her  midship 
section  on  both  sides  was  thoroughly  iron-coated. 
This  planking  had  been  ripped  off  in  every  direc 
tion  by  our  shot  and  shell,  the  chain  broken  and 
indented  in  many  places,  and  forced  partly  into  the 
ship's  side.  The  enemy  was  heavier  than  myself, 
both  in  ship,  battery,  and  crew  ;  but  I  did  not 
know  until  the  action  was  over  that  she  was  also 
iron-clad."  The  chain-plating  of  the  Kearsarge, 


24 


the  "  iron-clad  "  of  Captain  Semmes,  consisted  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  fathoms  of  sheet  chains 
covering  a  space  amid-ships  of  forty-nine  and  one- 
half  feet  in  length  by  sixteen  feet  two  inches  in 
depth,  stopped  up  and  down  to  eyebolts  with  mar 
lines,  secured  by  iron-dogs  and  employed  for  the 
purpose  of  protecting  the  engines  when  the  upper 
part  of  the  coal  bunkers  was  empty,  as  happened 
during  the  action.  The  chains  were  concealed  by 
inch  deal  boards  as  a  finish.  The  chain-plating 
was  struck  twice,  by  a  thirty-two  pound  shot  in 
starboard  gangway,  which  cut  the  chain  and  bruised 
planking,  and  by  a  thirty-two-pounder  shell,  which 
which  broke  a  link  of  the  chain,  exploded,  and 
tore  away  a  portion  of  the  deal  covering.  Had 
the  shot  been  from  the  one  hundred  and  ten- 
pounder  rifle,  the  result  would  have  been  dif 
ferent,  though  without  serious  damage,  because 
the  shot  struck  five  feet  above  the  water  line,  and 
if  sent  through  the  side  would  have  cleared  the 
machinery  and  boilers.  It  is  proper  therefore  to 
assert  that  in  the  absence  of  the  chain-armor  the 
result  would  have  remained  the  same,  notwith 
standing  the  common  impression  at  the  time, 
of  an  "iron  clad  "  contending  with  a  wooden  ves 
sel.  The  chains  were  attached  to  the  ship's  side 
more  than  a  year  previous  to  the  fight,  while  at 
the  Azores  ;  in  subsequent  visits  to  European 


25 

ports  they  had  attracted  notice  and  caused  repeat 
ed  comment.  Strange  that  Captain  Semmes  did 
not  know  of  the  chain-armor  before  the  fight ; 
supposed  rebel  spies  had  been  on  board,  there  was 
no  attempt  at  concealment ;  the  same  pilot  was 
employed  by  both  vessels  and  visited  each  during 
the  preparation  for  battle. 

One  hundred  and  sixty-three  was  the  number 
of  the  crew  of  the  Kearsarge,  including  officers  ; 
that  of  the  Alabama  not  definitely  known,  but 
from  the  most  reliable  information  estimated  at 
nearly  the  same.  The  tonnage  of  the  former 
1031,  of  the  latter  1044.  The  battery  of  the 
Kearsarge  consisted  of  seven  guns,  two  eleven- 
inch  pivots,  smooth  bore,  one  twenty-eight-pound 
er  rifle,  and  four  light  thirty-two  pounders  ;  that 
of  the  Alabama  of  eight  guns,  one  sixty-eight- 
pounder  pivot,  smooth  bore,  one  one  hundred  and 
ten-pounder  rifle  pivot,  and  six  heavy  thirty-two 
pounders.  Five  guns  were  fought  by  the  Kear 
sarge,  seven  by  the  Alabama,  both  with  the  star 
board  batteries.  The  Kearsarge  had  made  thirteen 
and  one-half  knots  an  hour  under  steam,  the  Ala 
bama  never  exceeded  thirteen,  and  at  the  time  of 
the  action  was  only  equal  to  ten.  The  vessels  were 
not  unequally  matched  in  size,  speed,  crew,  and 
armament,  displaying  a  similarity  not  often  wit 
nessed  in  naval  battles.  The  contest  was  decided 

7 


OP  THB 

UNIVERSITY 


26 

by  the  superiority  of  the  eleven-inch  Dahlgrens 
over  the  Blakely  rifle  and  smooth  bore,  in  connec 
tion  with  the  greater  coolness  and  accuracy  in  aim 
of  the  gunners  of  the  Kearsarge. 

l<  So  ends  the  story  of  the  Alabama,"  quoting 
again  from  the  Liverpool  Courrier,  "  whose  journal 
would  be  the  most  interesting  volume  of  ocean 
literature ;  whose  ubiquity  scared  the  commerce  of 
America  from  the  seas  ;  whose  destructive  powers 
have  ruined  property  belonging  to  the  northerns 
valued  at  upwards  of  three  millions  of  money ; 
whose  actions  very  nearly  involved  these  countries 
in  war  with  the  United  States.  The  Americans 
are  indignant  that  the  ship  was  built  by  British 
hands,  of  British  oak,  armed  with  British  guns, 
and  manned  by  British  sailors." 

Numerous  inaccuracies,  suppressions,  exaggera 
tions,  and  discrepancies  exist  in  most  of  the  ac 
counts  of  this  renowned  naval  engagement.  The 
first  reports  published  in  Europe  were  character 
ized  by  contradictions  sufficient  to  confuse  any 
reader.  This  variance  was  noted  by  the  London 
Daily  News  in  the  following  manner:  "The  sceptic 
who  called  history  a  matter-of-fact  romance,  should 
have  lived  in  our  day,  when  a  naval  action  is  fought 
off  Cherbourg  on  a  Sunday,  and  reported  to  the 
London  and  Paris  newspapers  on  the  Monday 
morning,  no  two  reports  agreeing  in  any  single 


27 

fact,  except  in  the  result.  In  our  enlightened 
epoch  of  incessant,  instantaneous,  and  universal 
inter-communication,  the  difficulty  of  getting  at 
the  simple  facts  of  any  passing  incident,  in  which 
conflicting  sympathies  are  concerned,  increases  in 
proportion  to  the  increasing  celerity  and  certainty 
with  which  the  materials  of  history  are  gathered. 
Some  allowance,  no  doubt,  may  be  made  for  eye 
witnesses  on  shore  of  a  naval  engagement  seven 
miles  out  at  sea.  Their  'powerful  glasses'  are 
liable  to  that  peculiar  inaccuracy  of  sight  which 
distance,  excitement,  and  smoke  produce.  A 
French  gentleman,  for  instance,  who  from  Cher 
bourg  Breakwater  looked  on  at  the  American 
duel  on  Sunday  last,  wrote  a  graphic  letter  to  the 
Debats,  with  a  postcript  to  the  effect  that  he  had 
just  discovered  that  the  account  in  his  letter  was 
entirely  wrong." 

Here  ends   the  present  story  of  the  Kearsarge 
and  Alabama.      It  is  the  truth  told  honestly. 


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